ITS SUMMIT PREVIEW PODCAST TALKS EMISSIONS

The latest Talking Transport is a look ahead to the much anticipated ITS (UK) Summit that takes place on 27th November at the Bristol Harbour Hotel. Book your place at itssummit.co.uk and listen to it here.

In this podcast, which is relevant to you whether you’re going to the event or not, the event’s keynote speaker Kirk Steudle talks about what he’ll cover in his speech about how to implement technology and where to find the budget.

“The easiest thing is traffic signals,” he says. “We replace traffic signals every single year… replacing it with a traffic signal controller that is adaptable to the future That’s one way within existing budgets that we can be prepared to take advantage when it gets here.”

The Summit is discussing the real issues around implementation of technology in transport and not a day facing “death by powerpoint”. Among the sessions are a discussion about why great technology that the industry has invented doesn’t make it onto our network, is it because of understanding, budget, procurement or priorities? And how can we make the powers that be understand that ITS can often deliver benefits quicker, cheaper and more effectively than big infrastructure projects… You can join the conversation by signing up at itssummit.co.uk but be quick, places are selling out fast. The event is sponsored by Cubic, Kier, WSP and SNC Lavalin business Atkins.

Another issue being discussed is ITS to improve the environment, so we hear from another of the Summit’s speakers – Dave Williams from Atkins – and also from Professor Margaret Bell of Newcastle University who talks about the transport-related environmental issues we face and what technology can do about it, and also has a reality check for people who work from home.